Apparatus for necking-in and flanging tubular bodies



Sept. 10, 1935.

J. M. HoTHERsALL 2,013,654

APPARATUS FOR NECKING-IN AND FLANGING TUBULAR BODIES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1931 /dW ATTORN Sept. l0, 1935. J. M. HoTHERsALL. 2,013,654

APPARATUS FOR NECKING-IN AND FLANGING TUBULAR BODIES Filed April 9, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheevi.v 2

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ATTORN EY INVENTOR Sept m9 3.935. J. M. HQTHERSALL. 290139654 APARATUS FOR NECKING-IN AND FLANGING 'lUBULAR BODIES Filed April 9, 1951. 6 Sheets-Sheel 3 7777 A Y 5 )q .24

, v...y/ f4 y V V INVENR /55 /4/ I BY ATTORNEY Sept E09 '5.935 J. M. HOTHERSALL 2903654 APPARATUS FOR NECKNGIN AND FLANGING TUBULAR BODIES Filed April 9, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 TTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept, l0, i935. J. M. HOTHERSALL Filed April 9, 1951 lNvETOR Sept 10, 1935. J. M. HOTHERSALI. 2,013,654

APPARATUS FOR NECKING-IN AND FLANGING TUBULAR BODIES Filed April 9, 1931 e sheets-sheet e .ZZ 5'/ l.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1935 PATENT oFFlcE APPARATUS FOR NECKING-IN AND FLANGING TUBULAR BODIES John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assig'nor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 9, 1931, Serial No. 528,726

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the reformation of the ends of tubular bodies as, for example, cans and containers to alter their shape and/or dimensions and has particular reference tothe necking-in, flanging and curling of the ends of the tubular. body.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of tubular bodies and contemplates the altering or reforming of the body by necking-in l0 one end of the body and ilanging the opposite end, after which the reformed or necked-in end of the body is rolled over or curled. The necking-in operation of the present invention is similar to that disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,698,999, issued January 15, 1929.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for altering the shape and dimensions of the ends of a metal tubular body by necking-in and curling one end and flanging the opposite end.

An important object ofthe invention is the provision of an apparatus for simultaneously fianging and'necking-in the ends of a tubular body and subsequently curling the necked-in end of the body.i

An important object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for simultaneously operating on a plurality of tubular bodies during which time each body is held on aninternal base and is flanged while being successively presented to necking-in and curling operations.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an apparatus capable of carrying out the steps of the present invention, parts being broken back and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation and front sectional view of the apparatus as viewed substantially along the 1ine.22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig, 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the lower part of the apparatus being taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially along the line 5 5 in Fig. 3 and illustrating different stages in the reformation of the tubular bodies, certain working parts of the apparatus being illustrated at the beginning of the cycle of operations;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the working parts in position at the completion of the cycle of operations;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional plan detail taken substantially along the line 5 1 1 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view taken subtantially along the line 8--8 in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan detail taken substantially along the line 10 9-9 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially along the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a similar view taken substantially 15 along the line Il-II in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the completely reformed and anged tubular body.

A tubular container body is selected for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, 20 and this body is subjectedto different operations in a press-like apparatus which alters its form or shape. 'Ihe original straight tubular form, indicated by the numeral 2l o'n the left-hand side of Fig. 5, is first reformed and brought into 25 the shape indicated by the numeral 22, shown on the right-hand side-of Fig. 5. In a subsequent operation this form 22 is finally reshaped into a flanged, reformed and curled tubular body 23, illustrated in Fig. 12 and :also at the right-hand 30 side of Fig. 6.

This first reforming operation necks-in or alters the diameter of the upper end of the container body (left side of Fig. 5) providing a rounded shouldered body 24 leading into a neck 35 25 of smaller diameter. At the same time the lower end of the body 22 is bent outwardly to produce a flange 26. This constitutes the shape 22 which is then subjected to the second reforming operation wherein the upper edge of the 4x0 neck 25 is bent outwardly, downwardly and inwardly to produce a curl 2'! (right side of Fig. 6).

The apparatus for performing the aforesaid operations preferably comprises a supporting frame 3| (Figs. 1 and 2) on which is` mounted a 45 press frame 32 extending upwardly as spaced reinforced Webs 33 which support a bed 34 formed integrally therewith.

The bed 34 provides a support for an intermittently movable turret 35 keyed to a vertical shaft 50 36 extending through a bore 31 formed centrally of the bed 34. The shaft 36 at its lower end carries a bevel gear 38 which meshes witha similar gear 39 mounted on a horizontal drive shaft 4| journaled in bearings 42 formed in the press 55 frame 62. The shaft 4| is intermittently rotated in any suitable manner, the turret 65 being caused to rotate in steps through successive arcs of '72 degrees between which movable periods it is held at rest while successive operations take place on the tubular body.

The turret 35 carries flve internal die units indicated generally by the numeral 45, each unit being secured to the upper surface of the turret by bolts 46. The tubular body 2| to be reformed is placed by hand or in any suitable manner over each die unit which, upon rotation of the turret, presents the unit and its tubular body first to the necking-in and reforming station and thence to the curling station after which it moves beyond the operatiing stations where the completed body 23 is removed from the unit by hand or in any suitable manner.

Each die unit 45 comprises a base 5| (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) which rests directly on the turret 65 to which is secured atubular body member 62. This member is provided with spaced upwardly projecting tongues 53 having vertical side walls dening slots 54 therebetween.

An annular anging ring die 56 is mounted in a groove 51 formed in the upper surface of the base 5| and in a groove 56 formed in the member 52 the latter holding the die in position. The die 56 is provided with an annular curved wall 59 which has a vertical surface flush with the outer surface of the member 52 and which merges into a horizontal wall section. The wall 56 is thus curved downwardly and outwardly. A stop ring 6|, also carried in the groove 51 of the base 5|, surrounds the die 56. These parts constitute the stationary elements of the internal die units since they have no vertical movement relative to the turret. 'Ihey are bodily carried by the turret however, in its step rotation.

An upper telescoping member 65 (Figs. 2 and 5) is located directly above the member 52 and has vertical movement relative thereto, parts of each upper member telescoping within the other. For this purpose the member 65 is provided with downwardly extending tongues 66 having vertical walls setting off slots 61. Each tongue 66 engages and slides withinl a corresponding slot 54 of the member 52 while each tongue 56 similarly moves within a corresponding slot 61. The memberv 65 is also provided with a downwardly cylindrical section 68 which has a sliding ilt within the interior wall of `the member 52. A bolt 69 passing loosely through a vertical bore 1| in the part 68 is threadedly secured at 12 to the lower part of the member 52. This bolt with its head 13 prevents accidental displacement of the member 65.

Each member 65 (Figs. 4 and 5) is supported on vertical pins 15 normally held in raised -position by springs 16. 'I'he upper ends of the pins and the springs extend within vertical bores 11 formed in the section 66 of the member 65, each pin 15 having a head 16 on which the member 65 rests.

'Ihe springs 16 are interposed between the heads 16 of the pins and the lower horizontal wall of the"member 52. supported by the springs 16 as in normal position, rounded lower ends 19 of the pins are in line 'or slightly above the upper surface of the bed 34 and the pins are thus freely carried over the bed 34 with each step rotation of the turret.

With the turret 35 at rest, a tubular body 2| is inserted over the internal die units 45 which is then located at a feeding station A (Fig. 3).

With the member 65' The bottom edge of the body at such time rests upon the fianging die member 56 just above the curved wall of the surface 59. This tubular body must also bebrought into an exact position circumferentially of the members 52, 65 so that its s side seam, designated by the numeral 6|, (Figs. 8`. 9 and l1) is brought into engagement with a locating button 65 (Fig. 9) extending through a radial slot 66 cut in the wall of the member 65.

The outer end of the button 65 is tapered at 10 61 to permit this positioning ofthe bodyy 2| over the member 65, the inner lap of the side seam 6| being brought againstv the side wall of the button. The button 65 is formed with an enlarged head 66 which has sliding movement with- 15 in a counterbore 69 cut radially of the wall of the member 65 adjacent the slot 66.

A spring 9| is also located within the bore 69 and rests against the button head 86, this spring being held under compression by a threaded cap screw 92 secured in the wall of the member 65 and closing the inner end of the counterbore 69. This spring 6| normally forces the button 65 into its extended position but allows for the necessary yielding movement for insertion of the tubular body 2|.

Following the rst step rotation of the turret the die unit 45 with its body 2| is brought to4 rest at the first operating station designated by the letter B in Fig. 3. At this station the lower 30 edge of the body is flanged outwardly to produce the flange 26 and its upper edge is reformed by being caused to traverse a necking-in pass or forming path of sinuous contour to shape the curved shoulder 24 and the reduced neck 25.

At this station B the die unit and body 2| is in direct alignment and positioned beneath an upper movable die unit designated generally by the numeral |6| (Figs. l, 2, 5 and 6). This upper die unit comprises a shell |62 of cup shape form 0 which is threaded at |63 to a head |64 extending upwardly in a stem 65. The stem |65 is clamped to a base |66 of a press slide |61, a clamping cap |66 held by bolts |66 being used for this purpose. The shell |62 is further engaged with base |66 4;; by bolts The slide |61 has vertical sliding movement within guideways ||5 (Fig. 2) formed in extensions ||6 of the press frame 33. Slide |61 has vertical movement in the usual manner being 50 actuated by pivotal connection with a pitman ||1 connecting with a suitable crankshaft associated with the press mechanism.

A knockout rod |2| (Fig. 6) extends vertically through a bore |22 formed in the stem |65, the 55 upper end of the rod carrying locknuts |26 which confine a spring |24 in position on the end of the rod, the spring extending within a counterbore |25 formed in the upper end of the stem |65. 'I'he knockout rod |2| carries at its lower 60 enda knockout pad |26 having vertical movement within the member |62. Both rod and pad are in raised position normally held by the spring |24, thepad being in engagement with the head |64 at such time. The side walls of the padv |26 65 are cut back at |21 to provide a shoulder |26 (Fig. 6).

'I'he inner wall of the shell |62 adjacent its lowr edge is cut back at |3| and is of smoothly curved sinuous contour, and this provides the 70 external pass forming element for the necking-in operation. This curved wall communicates directly with a tapered wall |32 formed adjacent the lower edge of the shell. The wall |32 provides alead or guiding element to insure proper positioning of the upper edge of the body 2| inside of the wall |3| as the member\|02 moves downwardly. The external pass-forming member is thus circumferentially rigid or continuous, and the pass is formed by longitudinal movement. When the pad |26 engages the upper surface of the member 65, it depresses the latter against the action of a resistance unit which will now be described.

Directly beneath the pins 15 of the die unit 45 at the station B, are vertically disposed pins |35 (Figs. 4 and 6) which are located within vertical bores |36 formed in the bed 34. The upper surface of the pins |35 are substantially in the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the bed 34 and thus allow for freedom of movement of the turret 35 as the pins 15 carried thereby are brought directly above the pins in the bed.

These pins |35 rest upon a washer |31 of a drawing rubber unit carried on a vertically disposed bolt |38 threadedly secured at |39 into the bed 34. A head |4| of the bolt |38 supports a lower washer |42 which carries a drawing rubber |43. This rubber loosely surrounds the bolt |38 and its upper surface engages the washer |31 and normally holds the pins |35 in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. In this position the upper face of the washer |31 is against the lower surface of the bed 34. Resistance of the drawing rubber |43 transmitted through the pins |35, 15 is eii'ective through the member 65.

The upper outer wall of the member 65 is formed as a curved surface |45 of smoothly sinuyous contour (Figs. 5 and 6) which provides the internal pass forming element for the reforming operation. With the pad |26 solidly against the head |04 above and against the member 65 below, thecurved walls |3|, |45 are in proper cooperation to provide the forming pass for the necking-in operation, see Figs. 'l to 11 inclusive. At the center of the bend of the walls |3|, |45 these walls are spaced apart one thickness of the metal of the tubular body being reformed.

Above and below this central bend the distance between the walls is substantially a thickness and a half of metal. Adjacent the side seam 8|, this single thickness, the distance between walls at the center of the bend, is increased by a vertical groove |46 which provides a channel for the double-Walled lap of the side seam. 'I'he total depth of this channel is also one and one-half the metal thickness. 'I'he reasons for this will be clearer when consideration is given to the reforming operation which will now be described.

The member 65, after being engaged by the descending pad |26, is forced downwardly telescoping the members 65, 52 and shortening the distance between the upper surface of the member 65 and the anging ring or die 56. This shortening of the inner die unit 45 forces the upper end of the tubular body 2| through the forming pass between the walls |3|, |45, the said pass having an elongated sinuous detour the body wall taking the position within the pass as shown in Fig. 10 At the side seam and along the groove |46 the double metal thickness of the body is forced along a pass which is only one and a half the metal thickness as shown in Fig. 11. During such a passage, therefore, the lapped part of the side seam throughout the reformed wall of the body is reduced or squeezed into a thickness equal to only one and one-half the metal thickness.

Simultaneously with this reforming action on the upper end of the body 2|, a flanging of the lower end takes place. "To effect this operation the tubular body 2| bodily moves downwardly with the descendingy member 65, and its lower 4edge slides along the curved annular wall 59 of the hanging die 56 and outwardly until its outer 5 edge strikes against the stop ring 6|, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The container body 22 is the final result of this operation, the necked-in wall 24, the neck 25 and the flange 26 being formed at this time.

,` The turret 35 is then advanced another step in its rotation and the die unit 45 with the body 22 is moved from static-n B into a station C (Fig, 3) where the next operation of curling takes place. This die unit and its body is brought to rest di- 15 rectly beneath and in axial alignment with a second upper die unit designated generally by the numeral |6| and shown on the right-hand side of Figs. 2, 5 and 6.

This die unit comprises a head |63 having a 20 stem |64 which is engaged in the base |06 of the press slide |01 being held firmly in position with a clamping cap |65 bolted in place as at |66. A clamping ring |61 is supported on bolts. |68 carried by the head |63, each bolt head |69 resting 25 within a channel |1| cut out in the head. The shank of each bolt |68 has some sliding movement within a vertical opening |12 formed in the head and its lower end is threadedly secured at |13 to the ring |61.

Springs |15 are interposed between the members |63, |61 being partially located in recesses |16, |11 formed respectively in the members |63, |61. These springs when in extended position hold the ring |61 downwardly and spaced from the head |63, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the heads |69 of the bolts limiting this downward position of the ring. y

As the slide |81 moves downwardly and while its die unit |0| at station B is performing the 40 operations just described on a body 2|, the ring |61 is lowered over the neck 25 of the reformed tubular body 22 as it rests upon and is supported by the member 65 at the station C. The inner wall of the ring |61, adjacent the bottom, is shaped at |8| to correspond to the bend 24 of the tubular body, the lower edge of the wall joining a taperedannular wall |82 which guides the neck 25 of the bedy 22 into position. The formed surface |8| of the ring |61 engages the bend 24 50 of the body and clamps it tightly against the wall |45 of the member 65.

'Ihe lower die unit 45 as it rests at the station C, has the pins 15 thereof directly above and in vertical alignment with other pins |85 (Figs. 55 4 and 6) which are located in vertical bores |86 formed in the bed 34. These pins rest upon a washer |81 of a drawing rubber unit similar to but smaller than the unit at station B, this unit being carried on a bolt |88 having threaded en- 60 gagement at |89 within the bed34. The bolt |88 extends downwardly through the washer |81 and `also through a lower washer |9| resting against a head |92 of the bolt and supports a drawing rubber |93 loosely surrounding the bolt and inter- 65 posed between the Washers |81, |9|.

Resistance of the drawing rubber |93, transmitted through the pins |85, 15 is again effective in the member 65 on which the body 22 rests. This resistance assists in providing for the clamping of the body between the walls |45, |8|. The upper edge of the neck 25 of the tubular body 22 when this clamping takes placepasses into an annular groove |95 formed in the lower face 75 the drawing rubber |93 and the resistance of the Q springs 16. The tubular body 22, together with the member 65 is moved down until its flange 29 again enters into the ilanging die 56 and its outer edge engages against the stop ring 6|.

During this downward movement the upper edge of the neck 25 which extends into the groove |95 is bent outwardly, downwardly and inwardly along the wall |96, the tubular body 22 at such time being firmly clamped on the member 65 while moving therewith. In order to accomplish this bending the springs |15 yield and the ring |61 moves into engagement with the head |63. It will be understood that this is done by reason of the increasing resistance delivered by the rubber |93 and springs 16 which resistance increases as rubber and spring are brought under greater compression.

When the combined resistance builds up to a point where it is greater than the resistance of the springs |15 and the resistance in the metal against bending, the bending action takes place.

-The curl 21 is thus developed and the tubular .body 23 is the iinal result of this curling operation.

During the rising movement of the slide |01 which immediately follows, the head |63 and the ring |61 moves upwardly permitting the upward movement of the member 65 under the action of the drawing rubber |93 until this member reaches its normal raised position. Head |63 then moves away from the ring |61, the springs |15 at such time separating the ring I 61 from the head and thereby stripping or removing the tubular body 23 from the groove |95. Continued raising of the head thereafter picks up the ring |61 and restores the parts to normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The turret 35 following this curling operation advances another step in its step rotation and .the tubular bodyv 23 on its die unit 45 is brought into station D (Fig. 3) where it is removed in any suitable manner.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacricing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: 5

' of the shape and dimension desired in the refor- 10 mation of one end of the body, a fianging die member arranged to flange the opposite end of 'the body to produce a reformed tubular body, a curling die member for curling the edge of said reformed body, and actuating means causing rel- 15 ative approach first of said pass forming members and said flanging member and secondly of said curling member and said iianging member.

2. In an apparatus for altering the shape and dimensions of tubular bodies, the combination of a movable turret, internal pass forming members carried by said turret, external pass forming members mounted adjacent said turret, said internal and external members forming an elongated sinuous pass, lower die units having telescopic engagement with said internal pass forming members and cooperating therewith to internally support the tubular bodies, and means for presenting tubular bodies positioned on said turret members to said external pass forming members to neck-in the ends of said bodies.

3. In an apparatus for altering the shape and dimensions of tubular bodies, the combination of a movable turret, internal pass forming members carried by said turret, external pass forming members mounted adjacent said turret, a curling die member also mounted adjacent said turret, and means for simultaneously operating on two of said tubular bodies while on said turret members, by presenting one to the said external pass forming members and the other to the said curling die member to neck-in and curl said bodies.

4. An apparatus for altering the shape and dimensions of the ends of a metal tubular body comprising in combination, a movable turret, internal pass 4forming and flanging members carried by said turret, external pass forming members mounted adjacent said turret, a curling die member also mounted adjacent said turret, and means for presenting a tubular body positioned on said turret members first to said external pass forming members and then to said curling member to flange one end of said tubular body and neck-in and curl its opposite end.

JOHN M. I-IOTHERSALL. 

